In truth, Yannika hadn't been expecting anything like that request. She hadn't spoken to her father, or anyone from her family in twenty years. If she reached out, she didn't know what kind of reception she'd receive. And to ask to be let back into the family, she felt terrible trepidation at the prospect. But when she looked up at her son she knew she'd do it. She'd do anything for him. And his honest concern about her emotional reservations touched her deeply. Resolved, she nodded, "Of course darling. I shall." she said and kissed him again. "Your concern for my feelings is incredibly touching. Thank you!"
"Our patrol team disappeared after landing on the planet." The woman nods. "They sent the details of their survey, and reported that they would be landing and establishing a base. After which, they stopped reporting in. We sent a larger patrol, with the same result. They're fine when they're in orbit, but when they reach land, they go dark."
"Of course I'm concerned." He hugs her. "I love you." Carius looks at her again for a long while, before standing. "I'll make sure there's an official reason for you to go to your father, to make it a little easier on you. As for the cardinal, I doubt you'll have any problems with him, but tell me if something comes up."
"Hmm. Interesting. And they just disappear? Even if you watch them land?" Vizelle asked in curiosity. "How odd." Either there is an advanced race taking care of them, or... with no signs of life, and an advanced infrastructure. Perhaps automatons? Vizelle pondered, "Their surveys, can I see what details they picked up?"
To hear him tell her that he loved her so easily almost brought her to tears. "I shall, and I love you too." she'd said it several times already now, but she'd reinforce it as long as it took to make up for lost time. She stood shortly after him, and readjusted her gown so that her breasts weren't hanging out of it. She kissed him again lovingly, "Is that all you have time for today?" she asked "or may we spend the rest some more time together." She felt the issues at hand were pressing and she wanted to address them as soon as possible, but she also wouldn't mind finishing their 'date'.
She nods, handing Vizelle a data slate. Looking at it, she sees that the scans indicate a world that's quite heavily industrialised, with facilities and factories clearly in working order, though the strain on the environment isn't as heavy as it would be on a regular human forge world. There are cities, large and with a high energy output, but again, no indication of anyone, human, alien or synthetic, walking the streets.
"Hmm. No alien, organic, nor synthetic. Interesting." Vizelle cooed, "Have you seen them disappear?" She asked, "I trust you at least tried to observe them as they land?"
Carius chuckles, slipping his hand back around her waist, and fixing his uniform. "Well, it wouldn't be gentlemanly of me to leave you without escorting you back to your new chambers, would it?"
"No." She shakes her head. "These recon teams go far afield, generally on their own. They would have made recordings, but they didn't transmit them back."
"No," Yannika said with a suspicious grin at the mention of her new chambers. "No it would not. I'm glad my son has grown into such a fine gentleman." she finished and draped herself around his arm as the pair walked back to the palace.
"How odd, and a lost oppurtunity." Vizelle sighed, "Very well. This planet has piqued my interest. I will organize a recon team of my own." She cooed.
Yannika's new room is rather unimpressive when compared to her immense councillor's suite, small and not all that well decorated, but Carius quickly shows off the real feature: turning a switch, the bed slides to the side, revealing a hole in the floor through which a tunnel stretches out, heading to the Imperial bed chamber. Yannika sees her son smile. "I have a quick meeting to get to, now, so I have to get ready, but I'll be back soon. Feel free to use the tunnel whenever you wish, I know I will, but don't mention it to anyone. It could be bad if anyone found out that there's a secret route to my chambers." He kisses her softly. "I'll see you soon." Carius leaves the room, letting Yannika sit alone and ponder her changing circumstances for a little while. She's roused from her thoughts, however, by a knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer, the newcomer opens it and steps through, revealing Hersillia, Carius' step mother. "Priestess..." She says, looking the blonde up and down.
"Indeed?" She nods. "I've been having trouble trying to get another expedition ready, since my superiors are hesitant to spend good money chasing after bad, but if you're going..." She pauses. "You'll have my support, if you want it." She holds out a hand.
Yannika was surprised to see the Dowager Empress come to see her, though in hindsight she realized that perhaps she shouldn't have been. Despite her new status as mistress of the Emperor, Yannika remembered that, as Carius' step-mother and wife of the deceased Emperor, Hersillia was still, technically, royalty. As such, Yannika gave a respectful curtsy. "Your highness," she greeted with her head bowed, "to what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Very well. I can use all the help I can get. Specially an engineer's if the planet is as advance as I think it is." Vizelle replied with a smile, shaking the mechanic's hand. "Will we be using my ship, or one of yours?" She asked, while pondering who to bring to the expedition.
Hersillia looks around, quietly, for a few moments. "You know, my husband, Carius' father, had a room just like this, with a secret tunnel to his bedchamber. He used it often, giving it to whichever young beauty he'd had his eye on that month. He always got bored with them quickly, discarding them interchangeably for the next." She turns to Yannika. "Carius isn't like that. He doesn't just want sex, he wants someone he can love. And trust." The dowager pauses, glaring at Yannika. Her attitude is strangely informal, not like the prim and proper woman she saw in the council chamber, as if she's just being herself. "I don't know how or why Carius has gotten to like you so quickly. Who he chooses to spend time with his his business, I'm not his mother, but I will tell you this: Hurt him, and I will fucking demolish you, understand?"
"Up to you, sorceress." She shrugs. "We could use one of our freighters, to carry as many people and resources as possible, but you might favour a smaller attack vessel and a smaller squad. Depends on what you have available to you."
"Hmm. We'll go with both then. On the off chance there are survivors, we'll need the freighter. So, you take one of your freighter, and I'll bring one of my attack ships. What do you think?" Vizelle asked with a smirk.
In truth, Yannika knew all about the room Carius had moved her into. Agammenon had given her the same one all those years ago. It was somewhat ironic and fitting at the same time she thought. Yannika was moved by the dowager empress. Not out of fear of her words, rather the priestess could plainly see that Hersillia cared for Carius. While she most certainly was not Carius' mother, Hersillia was the closest thing he'd had to one for a long time, and Yannika would be forever grateful and indebted to the woman for whatever comfort and support the dowager empress had offered the priestess' son over the past decade. "I understand your highness." Yannika replied softly but without the sense she'd been cowed or intimidated by the other woman. "And thank you, thank you for caring enough about him to come and see me. But know that hurting the Emperor is something I will never do."
"Sounds like a plan." She nods. "Prepare your men, and I'll bring what I can get my superiors to part with."
